Hydraulic shock absorber for vehicles



Feha 25, 3936. c. LACROIX HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES FiledNov. 15, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'IIIII M' fi. 2 2/ 4 26 25, 1936. cLACROlX 2,032,289

HYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES F'iled- NOV. 15, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Eatenteci Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEHYDRAULIC SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES Charles Lacroix, Brussels, Belgium4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic shock absorber for motorcars and like vehicles, which is designed to brake, in both directionsof operation, the relative movements between the suspended and thenonsuspended parts of the vehicle in order to give the vehicle a greatstability, more particularly when it has an independent wheelsuspension. Further objects of the invention are to provide a hydraulicshock absorber that will not leak and will be adapted to retain itsefiiciency for any period of time.

My improved shock-absorber is of the type in which the braking action iseffected by transfer of liquid through constricted openings betweenchambers of variable capacity formed in a casing between rotating bladeswhich are rocked about a common axis through the relative movementsoccurring between the suspended and nonsuspended portions of thevehicle. According to the 20 invention, the variable capacity chambersformed between the blades are permanently connected with each other bymeans of a peripheral container through which the liquid flows from onechamber to the other. The permanent connection thus 25 provided throughvalveless orifices of uniform cross-section ensures an equal brakingaction in both directions of movement of the vanes, whilst owing to thefact that the liquid transfer takes place through a peripheral containerin which 30 said liquid is cooled, the temperature of the liquid in theworking chambers of the apparatus is not liable to affect the viscosityof the liquid or to cause same to expand unduly, whereby leakages ofliquid and ingress of air which might un- 35 favourably affect theoperation of the shock absorber are avoided.

According to my invention I further provide means ensuring that thecasing of the shock absorber be perfectly fluidtight and that the mov-40 able members be accurately centered within each other so that theviolent stresses to which they are subjected will not lead to breakage.

In the'pre'ferred embodiment of my invention ,the shock absorber isformed with two pivoted arms respectively connected to the suspended andthe non-suspended parts of the vehicle and secured each to a pair ofblades. This and other embodiments of my invention are described here-50 under with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective small scale view of a shock absorber having asingle casing,

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the casing of said shock absorber online 11-11 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the entire shock absorber online III-III of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 shows in elevation the two blades of said shock absorber, takenapart in the relative position shown in Fig. 2, 5

Fig. 5 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 1 showing a shock absorberwith a double casing,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of said double casing shockabsorber,

Fig. '7 shows a diametral cross section, on line 10 VIIVII of Fig. 8, ofanother embodiment of a single casing shock absorber,

Fig. 8 is a transverse cross-section through said casing on lineVIII-VIII of Fig. '7, and

Figs. 9 to 12 are detail views illustrating vari- 15 ous methods ofassembly.

In Figs 1 to 3, I and 2 are the two arms of the shock absorber pivotallymounted on shaft 3 between the clamping nuts 4 and the casing 5 heldbetween said arms. The free ends of arms I and 2 are respectivelypivoted to the frame and to the axle of the vehicle by means of suitablepins 6 and I.

The casing 5 comprises two cup shaped members 8, 9, screwed together atI0, and an annular wall I I mounted in annular grooves I2 of the cupshaped members and dividing the casing into two concentric chambers I3and I4. The inner chamber I4, enclosed within the peripheral wall I I,is closed on one side by the cup shaped member 9, on the opposite sideby means of a disc I5 and centrally by a sleeve I6 mounted on shaft 3.Lateral fluid tightness of the inner chamber is ensured by the jointbetween sleeve I 6 and the cup member 9 which may be welded as shown atH, and by means of the joint between the other endof sleeve I6, disc I5,and a washer I8 engaging said sleeve. If required, packing may beprovided at said latter end of sleeve I6, or at both ends if one of themis not welded or otherwise secured in fluid-tight manner to casing 5.

Two pairs of blades I9 and 20 cut away so that each said pair of bladesencloses the hub I9 or 20 of the other, are mounted at right angles toeach other on sleeve I6, and each pair may freely ro-- tate on thesleeve to the extent permitted by the other pair of blades. The bladesI9 are secured to arm I by means of screws 2|, whilst the blades 20 arefor instance welded to the cup member 9 which in turn is welded to arm2.

In use, the chambers I3 and I 4 are filled with oil or like suitableliquid, through the inlet aperture 22 arranged at the top of the casing,opposite the outlet aperture 22, until the oil begins to escape throughthe test holes 23, which occurs when'the entire casing is filled. Thechambers l3 and M communicate with each other through holes 24 providedin the annular wall II for the purpose specified hereunder.

It may easily be seen that when an angular movement is applied to arms Iand 2, the blades l9 and 20 are moved relatively to each other withinchamber 14. The oil contained in the.

spaces between the blades moving towards each other is forced into theperipheral container l3 through the adjacent holes 24, whilst oil issucked out of said container l3 through other holes 24 into the spacescomprised between blades which are moving away from each other. Theresistance encountered by the oil circulating through the appropriatelydimensioned holes 24, exerts a braking action on the movement of theblades and consequently also on the movement of arms I and 2 and of thevehicle parts to which said arms are connected. The shock .absorberchecks or brakes in both directions the movement of each arm as well'asthe simultaneous movement of both arms.

The embodiment shown in Figs. '5 and'G only differs from the previousconstruction showing two single side arms in that it comprises a singlecentral arm 25 and a double arm 26 enclosing two twin coupled casings 5.Said casings may be welded to the central arm. They contain the sameparts as the single casing of the shock absorber previously describedand they operate in like manner. However the balanced distribution ofstresses, obtained by means of a double arm enclosing a single .armavoids torsional stresses on the shock absorber.

The fluid tightness of the casing and the resistance to torsional andtowedging actions are further enhanced in the modified embodimentillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. 7

In this embodiment, the chamber [4 containing the blades l9 .and 20, andthe peripheral chamber [3 surrounding same are both formed in the bottomof a cup member 21 having a central sleeve or boss l6 and are closedrespectively by means of a bell shaped member 28 capping the sleeve IBand of an angle ring 29 screwed in the cup member 21. Said ring 29closely surrounds, member 28 .and is axially secured by means of aclamping nut 30 which is screwed into the cup 21. and is adapted to bearon the top of ring 29, and on a shoulder 3| of the bell.

The fluid tightness of the joints is. ensured by packing insertedbetween conical surfaces provided on parts 28, 29, 3|] said packing,being forced laterally into grooves or slits of the adjacentwalls whenthe'parts are screwed together. Such packing is provided at 32 betweenthe nut 36 and angle ring 29, at:33. between. bell member 28 and nut 39and at 34 between the bell member and the sleeve IS. The packing 32 iscompressed by the nut 36, whilst packing rings 35 and 36 are screweddown respectively inside-the nut member 30 and into the hub of bell 23inorder to compress the packings 33 and 34.

The bell 28, rotating inside the cup 21, carries the pair of blades l9vsecured to said bell by means of pins, 2|, whilst the pair of blades 2t]is secured to cupmember 21 by means of pins 31. Said rotating bellmember is suitably centered andsupported on-extensive surfacescomprising, at the centre, the sleeve "I 6 and the packing ring 36, andon the sides the angle ring 29 and also the nut member 311 and the.Packing ring 35 'Wedgingj actions are thus avoided.

The packing rings 35 and 36 are preferably made of bronze or likesuitable anti-friction alloy.

A permanent connection between chamber [4 and peripheral container I3 isobtained by means of holes 24 and 38 respectively provided in the 5adjacent annular walls of the bell 28 and of the angle ring 29, saidholes communicating with each other through part circular grooves 39preferably formed in the wall of the ring so as to maintain permanentcommunication between 10 the said holes whatever be the relative angularposition of members 28 and 29.

Thesuccessive grooves 39 are separated from each other by means of solidportions 40, in'order to avoid a short circuit of the oil between the 15fixed or it may be replaced by means for fasten- 25 ing the device tothe vehicle, more particularly when the shock absorber is to. be mountedon vehicles provided withindependent wheels,.in which case it may bepreferable to secure the shock absorber casing directly to the vehicle30 frame.

For the purpose of attaching arms .I- and 2, the bell member 28 isformed witha. centraLsubstantially noncircular. boss 4| engaged ,in an.opening of arm I, which may. also. be secured. to 3 the bell member bymeans of screws (Fig. 9.), while the bottom of cup. member .21 is formedwith a circular downturned ledge 42 which engages a'similar cut awayportion of arm 2.

Fig. 10 shows how arm 2 may be formedintegralwith the cup member 21, andFig. 1 1.-shows an arm of this type used in. a, shock absorber hav n a duble arm 1 Y In Fig. 12 the arm I' isbent. back so as to form afastening lug whereby the casing of the 45 shock absorber maybe securedat right: angles onto the frame of .an independentwheel vehicle whilstthe free arm {is pivotally attached to the wheel drum for instance. Thecentral; bolt or shaft 3 may also be employed in order; to, attach theshock absorber to thevehicle, and other methods of assembly and/ormodifications. may be devised. without departure, from the scope of myinvention as defined by-the appended claims. I claim;

, 1. In a hydraulic shock absorber for vehicles,

arms pivoted on said shaft and connected each to 5 one of said pairs ofblades, means for closing both said chambers in a fluid tight manner,and apermanently open passage connecting said chambers with each otherthrough constricted holes on either side of each of said pairs ofblades.

2. In ahydraulic shock absorber, the combination of a casing comprisingan outer cupshaped member, an inner bell-shaped member having its cavityturnedtowards said cup-shaped member; and an annular member forpressing-the. 7

edge of said bell-shaped member into frictional engagement with thebottom of said cup-shaped member, said cup-shaped member and saidbellshaped member enclosing a circular chamber, said cup-shaped memberand said annular member enclosing an annular chamber, a shaft extendingcentrally of said circular chamber, a pair of blades secured to saidcup-shaped member, a pair of blades secured to said bell-shaped member,and a permanently open passage between said circular chamber and saidannular chamber comprising a series of holes through the wall of saidbell-shaped member.

3. In a hydraulic shock absorber, the combination of an outer cup-shapedmember having a central boss, an inner bell-shaped member rotatable insaid cup-shaped member, the hub of said bell-shaped member engaging saidboss, the edge of said bell-shaped member engaging the bottom of saidcup-shaped member, a threaded angle ring surrounding said bell-shapedmember and engaging an inner thread on said cup-shaped member, a nutadapted to be screwed into said cup-shaped member to hold said anglering and said bell-shaped member, said cup-shaped member and saidbell-shaped member enclosing a circular chamber, said cup-shaped memberand said angle ring enclosing an annular chamber, radial blades in saidcircular chamber secured to said cup-shaped member and to saidbell-shaped member respectively, a permanently open passage between saidcircular chamber and said annular chamber comprising a series of holesthrough the wall of said bell-shaped member and grooves in the wall ofsaid angle ring, and packing respectively between said angle ring andsaid nut, between said nut and said bell-shaped member and between saidbell-shaped member and said hub.

4. In a hydraulic shock absorber, the combination of an outer cup-shapedmember having a central boss and an internally threaded wall, an innerbell-shaped member rotatable in said cupshaped member, said bell-shapedmember having a hub engaging said boss and an outer edge en gaging thebottom of said cup-shaped member, a threaded angle ring surrounding saidbellshaped member and adapted to be screwed in said cup-shaped member,an edge of said ring bearing on the bottom of said cup-shaped member, anut adapted to be screwed into said cup-shaped member and bear on saidring and said bell-shaped member, said cup-shaped member and saidbellshaped member enclosing a circular chamber, said cup-shaped memberand said angle ring enclosing an annular chamber, pairs of blades insaid circular chamber secured to said cup-shaped member and to saidbell-shaped member respectively, said blades forming relatively movableand substantially fluid-tight partitions dividing said circular chamberinto successive compartments, and grooves in said angle ring formingwith holes in the wall of said bell-shaped member and with said annularchamber a permanently open passage between said successive compartments.

CHARLES LACROIX.

